Auto Fire burns more than 55 acres along Santa Clara River bottom in Ventura on Monday night

VENTURA, Calif. – Ventura County Fire Public Information Officer Andrew Dowd said up-staffing and mutual aid helped firefighters from Ventura County, Ventura and Oxnard stop a fire from growing in the Santa Clara River bottom on Monday night.

Dowd told News Channel reporter Tracy Lehr he believes they stopped it from growing.

The latest mapping showed it had grown to 55.7 acres along the river bottom.

The fire burned an area between the Olivas Park Golf Course and the Ventura Auto Mall.

Fire and police and Sheriff's deputies could see the red glow from a parking lot full of cars from the Port of Hueneme.

None of the cars were damaged.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation order for a homeless encampment in the riverbed as a result of the fire.

A woman on a bicycle rode out but did not seem to know how the fire started.

The mother of an unhoused young man started yelling his name.

She said they don't usually have phones that work and they don't always get the warnings.

Diana Larios, said her 25-year-old son suffers from schizophrenia and doesn't even know about the Palisades Fire. She had planned on going to check on him when the fire broke out.

Darios who lives in her car said he is usually in the area with a girlfriend.

First responders asked golf courses nearby to turn their sprinkers on.

Crews also asked drivers to avoid Victoria Ave. and Olivas Park Rd during the fire fight..

Helicopters did countless water drops in the dark.

Heavy equipment including a bulldozer went to work and hand crews joined the fight.

The fire started after 7 p.m. during strong Santa Ana winds.

About 75 firefighters are working to contain or fully surround it.

Dowd said everyone should sign up for VC Alert at https://www.vcemergency.com

And with more Santa Ana winds in the forecast have a ready, set, go plan in place.